Aleighsa Welch Named SEC Co-Player of the Week

2014-02-11T04:43:28Z2014-02-11T04:43:28Z

COLUMBIA, SC -

South Carolina junior forward Aleighsa Welch (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek) earned SEC Co-Player of the Week honors, the league office announced today. Sharing the award with Florida's Kayla Lewis, Welch led the Gamecocks in scoring and rebounding and was second in assists and blocks over the two wins that kept South Carolina atop the SEC standings.

Welch powered South Carolina to a hard-fought win at Mississippi State as other offensive producers were saddled with foul trouble early in the game. Her seventh double-double of the season came with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the seventh-point victory. In Sunday's win over Arkansas, Welch's defense was impressive, posting a career-high five blocked shots while lead the offense with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. For the week, Welch averaged 17.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots.

Rising to No. 5 in this week's Associated Press poll, the Gamecocks are on the road for their next two games, beginning Sun., Feb. 16, at No. 19 LSU.